When was the last refinery built in the United States?

There were a total of 144 operable petroleum refineries in the United States as of January 1, 2012.

The "newest" refinery in the United States began operating in 2008 in Douglas, Wyoming. However, the newest significant (or sophisticated) refinery began operating in 1977 in Garyville, Louisiana.

Capacity has also been added to existing refineries through upgrades or new construction. The most recent examples include:

• In 1998, Orion Refinery massively upgraded and reopened a refinery in Norco, Louisiana, which was a small, simple refinery that originally opened in 1967. (It is now owned by Valero.)
• Valero opened a "new" and very sophisticated refinery in 1983 in Corpus Christi, Texas, on the site of a simple refinery that originally opened in 1975.

The newest refineries currently operating in the United States are as follows:

Year Built	First Operated	Location	Original Owner	Original Capacity	Current Owner	2011 Capacity	Type
2008	2008	Douglas, WY	Interline Resources	3,000	Garco Energy	3,600	Simple
1998	1998	Atmore, AL	Goodway	4,100	Goodway	4,100	Simple
1993	1993	Valdez, AK	Petro Star	26,300	Petro Star	55,000	Simple
1991	1992	Eagle Springs, NV	Petro Source	7,000	Foreland	2,000	Simple
1986	1987	North Pole, AK	Petro Star	6,700	Petro Star	19,700	Simple
1985	1986	Anchorage, AK	ARCO	12,000	ConocoPhillips	15,000	Simple
1981	1982	Thomas, OK	OK Refining	10,700	Ventura	12,000	Simple
1979	1980	Wilmington, CA	Huntway	5,400	Valero	6,300	Simple
1978	1979	Vicksburg, MS	Ergon	10,000	Ergon	23,000	Simple
1978	1979	North Slope, AK	ARCO	13,000	BP Exp AK	12,780	Simple
1978	1978	North Pole, AK	Earth Resources	22,600	Flint Hills	219,500	Simple
1977	1978	Lake Charles, LA	Calcasieu	6,500	Calcasieu	78,000	Simple
1976	1977	Garyville, LA	Marathon	200,000	Marathon	464,000	Complex
1976	1977	Krotz Springs, LA	Gold King	5,000	Alon	80,000	Complex
1975	1975	Corpus Christi, TX	Saber	15,000	Valero	142,000	Complex
1967	1967	Good Hope, LA	Kirby Industries	6,500	Valero	205,000	Complex

Learn more:

Refinery Capacity Report, Table 1

Last updated: August 3, 2012

Other FAQs about Crude Oil

• Do we have enough oil worldwide to meet our future needs?
• Does EIA have data on U.S. oil refineries and their locations?
• Does EIA have data on the movement of crude oil and ethanol by rail and truck?
• Does EIA have data on the type or quality of crude oil processed in U.S. refineries?
• Does EIA have maps or information on the location of natural gas and oil pipelines?
• How dependent is the United States on foreign oil?
• How many gallons of gasoline does one barrel of oil make?
• How much coal, natural gas, or petroleum is used to generate a kilowatt-hour of electricity?
• How much does it cost to produce crude oil and natural gas?
• How much of the oil produced in the U.S. is consumed in the U.S.?
• How much oil does the United States consume per year?
• How much oil is produced in Alaska and where does it go?
• How much oil is used to make plastic?
• How much petroleum does the United States import and from where?
• What are the differences between various types of crude oil prices?
• What are the products and uses of petroleum?
• What countries are the top world oil consumers?
• What countries are the top world oil net exporters?
• What countries are the top world oil net importers?
• What countries are the top world oil producers?
• What do I pay for in a gallon of regular gasoline?
• What is the difference between crude oil, petroleum products, and petroleum?
• What is the outlook for home heating fuel prices this winter?
• What types and amounts of energy are produced in each state?
• When was the last refinery built in the United States?
• Where is the boundary for state and federal offshore oil and gas production?
• Why don't fuel prices change as quickly as crude oil prices?
• Why is the United States exporting gasoline when prices are so high?